Written answers

Wednesday, 22 June 2022

Department of Justice and Equality

An Garda Síochána

Photo of Neasa HouriganNeasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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159. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 1348 of June 14 2022, when she expects the appropriate mechanism to facilitate cooperation to be in place; if she will that ensure victims and their families are informed of progress beforehand directly by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33036/22]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy refers to Operation Denton, which is an ongoing UK independent analytical review into the activities of what was known as the Glenanne Gang in Northern Ireland.

Operation Denton forms part of the work of the Kenova Investigation Team with regard to a series of Northern Ireland legacy cases.

An Garda Síochána is committed to cooperating to the greatest extent possible with Kenova and already has in place a High Level Agreement which supports mutual co-operation and exchange of information with the Operation Kenova Investigation Team in the context of criminal investigations. The Historical Investigation Coordination Unit within An Garda Síochána continues to support this work.

Operation Denton is a distinct strand in the work of Kenova, an analytical review rather than a criminal investigation and, in the circumstances, it was necessary to obtain the advices of the Office of the Attorney General with regard to the available legal measures to facilitate cooperation. The Deputy will appreciate that the necessary information-sharing framework must be in place to facilitate cooperation between An Garda Síochána and Operation Denton in order to protect any sensitive data being transferred.

As I previously advised the Deputy, following receipt of advices from the Attorney General, work is nearing completion in my Department on an appropriate mechanism to facilitate this cooperation and Government approval was received on 21 June in this regard. It is expected that the mechanism will be in place in the very near future.

Officials of this Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs have been engaging with KENOVA and victims groups with regard to this matter.

Photo of John BradyJohn Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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160. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí in County Wicklow, the stations in the county in which they are located in each of the years 2017 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33150/22]

Photo of John BradyJohn Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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163. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda patrol vehicles in County Wicklow; and the stations in the county in which they are located in each of the years 2017 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33153/22]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 and 163 together.

The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with the unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2022 of over €2 billion.

As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

I understand that it is a matter for the Divisional Chief Superintendent to determine the optimum distribution of duties among the personnel available to them, having regard to the profile of each area within the Division and its specific needs. 

The attached spreadsheet, which has been provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Gardaí assigned to Wicklow Division at end December 2017 up to end December 2021 and at 31 May 2022, the latest date for which figures are available. 

Further detailed information in relation to Garda numbers is available on my Department’s website.  This information is updated every month with the latest data provided by An Garda Síochána, and includes the number of Gardaí by station across the whole country.

The information can be found at the following link:www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/An_Garda_Siochana_facts_and_figures 

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the table below sets out the vehicles assigned to Wicklow Division at end December 2017 up to end December 2021 and at 31 May 2022, the latest date for which figures are available.  I am further informed that An Garda Síochána do not provide vehicle allocations by Garda Station for security reasons.

Wicklow  Division  Cars Vans Motorcycles 4x4 *Others  Total
31-Dec-17 45 11 1 4 1 62
31-Dec-18 42 11 1 5 2 61
31-Dec-19 41 11 1 6 1 60
31-Dec-20 49 11 2 6 1 69
31-Dec-21 50 11 2 6 1 70
31-May-22 48 10 2 6 1 67

*The category 'others' refers to MPV, SUV, Minibus or Prisoner Conveyance Vehicles 

The Deputy may also wish to be aware that An Garda Síochána publish information on Garda fleet, including a Divisional/District monthly breakdown, on their website at: 

www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/finance-services/finance-fleet-management.html.

Photo of John BradyJohn Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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161. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of community gardaí in County Wicklow; the stations in the county in which they are located in each of the years 2017 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33151/22]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the general management and administration of the Garda organisation under the Garda Síochána Act 2005. This includes the deployment of Garda members throughout the State.

The table below, which has been provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Community Gardaí assigned to Wicklow Division at end December 2017 to end December 2021, and at 31 May 2022 the latest date for which figures are available.

Wicklow 31/12/2017 SG GD Total
Bray 1 5 6
Blessington 0 1 1
Baltinglass 0 1 1
Carnew 0 1 1
Greystones 0 4 4
Arklow 0 1 1
Total 1 13 14

Wicklow 31/12/2018 SG GD Total
Bray 1 5 6
Baltinglass 0 1 1
Greystones 0 4 4
Arklow 0 1 1
Roundwood 0 1 1
Total 1 12 13

Wicklow 31/12/2019 SG GD Total
Arklow 0 1 1
Baltinglass 0 1 1
Bray 1 4 5
Greystones 0 4 4
Total 1 10 11

Wicklow 31/12/2020 SG GD Total
Arklow 0 1 1
Baltinglass 0 1 1
Bray 1 3 4
Greystones 0 4 4
Total 1 9 10

Wicklow 31/12/2021 SG GD Total
Arklow 0 1 1
Baltinglass 0 1 1
Bray 1 2 3
Greystones 0 4 4
Total 1 8 9

Wicklow 31/05/2022 SG GD Total
Arklow 0 1 1
Baltinglass 0 1 1
Bray 1 1 2
Greystones 0 2 2
Total 1 5 6

The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with an unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2022 of over €2 billion.

I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of policing priorities and crime trends, to ensure their optimal use. I understand that it is a matter for the Divisional Chief Superintendent to determine the distribution of duties among the personnel available to them, having regard to the profile of each area within the Division and its specific needs.

To date, the official categorisation as a Community Garda has simply referred to those members who are exclusively assigned to building relationships with local communities and civil society, including giving talks to schools, community groups and others. It is important to note, however, that community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána and that all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in the course of carrying out their duties.

Indeed, this is fundamental to the new Garda Operating Model recommended by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and currently being rolled out under 'A Policing Service for Our Future', the Government's implementation plan for the Commission's recommendations.

In the interests of transparency, detailed information in relation to Garda numbers is available on my Department’s website. This information is updated every month with the latest data provided by An Garda Síochána, and includes the number of Gardaí by station across the whole country and Community Policing numbers.

The information can be found at the following link: www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/An_Garda_Siochana_facts_and_figures.

Photo of John BradyJohn Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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162. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí in County Wicklow in a dedicated drug unit; and the stations in the county in which they are located in each of the years 2017 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33152/22]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. The allocation of Garda resources is made in light of identified operational demands. This includes decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of policing priorities and crime trends, to ensure their optimum use. I understand that it is a matter for the Divisional Chief Superintendent to determine the optimum distribution of duties among the personnel available to them, having regard to the profile of each area within the Division and its specific needs.

The table below, provided to me by the Garda authorities, shows the number of Gardaí attached to the Wicklow Division Drugs Unit at end December 2017 to end December 2021, and at 31 May 2022, the latest date for which figures are available. For operational reasons, the Garda stations where these members are assigned is unavailable.

Wicklow Drugs Unit SG GD Total
31/12/2017 0 0 0
31/12/2018 1 3 4
31/12/2019 1 3 4
31/12/2020 1 5 6
31/12/2021 1 5 6
31/05/2022 1 6 7

In the interest of transparency, a detailed breakdown of Garda numbers is available on my Department’s website. This information is updated every month with the latest data provided by An Garda Síochána. Information on the Garda workforce, Garda staff and other Garda statistics are available from the following link:

www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Garda_Workforce.

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